Why is graph visualization so important? How can it help businesses sifting through large amounts of complex data? We explore the answer in this post through 5 advantages of graph visualization and different use cases.
Also called network, a graph is a collection of nodes (or vertices) and edges (or links). Each node represents a single data point (a person, a phone number, a transaction) and each edge represents how two nodes are connected (a person possess a phone number for example). This way of representing data is well suited for scenarios involving connections (social networks, telecommunication networks, protein interactions, and a lot more).
Graph visualization is the visual representation of the nodes and edges of a graph. Dedicated algorithms, called layouts, calculate the node positions and display the data on two (sometimes three) dimensional spaces. Graph visualization tools provide user-friendly web interfaces to interact and explore graph data.
These graph visualizations are simply visualizations of data modeled as graphs. Any type of data asset that contains information about connections can be modeled and visualized as a graph, even data initially stored in a tabular way. For instance, the data from our example above could be extracted from a simple spreadsheet as depicted below.
A table-based model of our first example
The data could also be stored in a relational database or in a graph database, a system optimized for the storage and analysis of complex and connected data.
In the end, graph visualization is a way to better understand and manipulate connected data. And it offers several advantages. Â
Interactive visualization tools are an essential layer to identify insights and generate value from connected data. There are a number of reasons why graph visualization is useful:
spend less time assimilating information  because the human brain processes visual information much faster than written one. Visually displaying data ensures a faster comprehension which, in the end, reduces the time to action. higher chance to discover insights  by interacting with data. Graph visualization tools offer the possibility to manipulate the data. It encourages data appropriation, its questioning and in the end increases the possibility to discover actionable insights.  that managers who use visual data discovery tools are 28% more likely to find timely information, than those who rely solely on managed reporting and dashboards. better understanding of a problem  by visualizing patterns and context. Graph visualization tools are perfect to visualize relationships but also to understand the context of the data. You get a complete overview of how everything is connected which allows to identify trends and correlations in your data. It’s an effective form of communication . Visual representations offer a more intuitive way to understand the data and are an impactful medium to share your findings with decision-makers. Everybody can work with graph visualization , not only technical users. More users can access the insights since specific programming skills are not required to interact with graph visualizations. This increases the value creation potential.
Let’s illustrate some of these benefits with a very simple example. We have a data sample of eleven individuals with information about who works with who. Below is the same data sample in two formats: a table and a graph visualization.
In our second format, we’ve modeled the connections between persons as edges to obtain a graph.
